The cross before Constantine :
Longenecker, Bruce W.,
The cross before Constantine : the early life of a Christian symbol / Early life of a Christian symbol Bruce W. Longenecker. - xi, 232 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-206) and indexes.
The cross in its place -- The cross and non-Christian society -- The cross in a Jewish cradle -- The cross in textual images -- The cross in the material record -- The cross in a Pompeii bakery -- The cross in the literary record -- The cross and its advocates -- A very short conclusion.
"Upending a longstanding consensus, Bruce W. Longenecker presents a wide variety of material artifacts to illustrate that Christians made use of the cross as a visual symbol of their faith long before Constantine appropriated it to consolidate his power in the fourth century. Constantine did not invent the cross as a symbol of Christian faith; for an impressive number of Christians before Constantine's reign, the cross served as a visual symbol of commitment to a living deity in a dangerous world."--Back cover.
9781451490305 1451490305
2016303302
Crosses.
Christian art and symbolism.
BV160 / .L66 2015
246
The cross before Constantine : the early life of a Christian symbol / Early life of a Christian symbol Bruce W. Longenecker. - xi, 232 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-206) and indexes.
The cross in its place -- The cross and non-Christian society -- The cross in a Jewish cradle -- The cross in textual images -- The cross in the material record -- The cross in a Pompeii bakery -- The cross in the literary record -- The cross and its advocates -- A very short conclusion.
"Upending a longstanding consensus, Bruce W. Longenecker presents a wide variety of material artifacts to illustrate that Christians made use of the cross as a visual symbol of their faith long before Constantine appropriated it to consolidate his power in the fourth century. Constantine did not invent the cross as a symbol of Christian faith; for an impressive number of Christians before Constantine's reign, the cross served as a visual symbol of commitment to a living deity in a dangerous world."--Back cover.
9781451490305 1451490305
2016303302
Crosses.
Christian art and symbolism.
BV160 / .L66 2015
246